FLAMINIAN MILITARY WAY

This road was constructed more than two-thousand years ago (in 187 BC according to Tito Livio in the Thirty-ninth Book) along the crests of the Apennines mountains by Consul Caio Flaminio’s legionnaires. It ran between the cities of Bononia and Arretium. It had almost disappeared to memory and history books, but in 1979 the ancient road was rediscovered by Cesare Agostini and Franco Santi, the first a lawyer, the second a stone-working builder, both from Castel dell’Alpi. They gave it its modern name, after having studied ancient documents.

Sparked by the amateur archeologists’ passion and the excitement around the finding of a small piece of ancient pavement near Monte Bastione, discoveries of pieces of the ancient thoroughfare were made. Today the “Flaminia militare” is a fascinating journey through history and the beauty of nature.

The itinerary we propose includes a path of about 20km of the ancient via that passes through the town limits of Monzuno and San Benedetto Val di Sambro as far as the Tuscan border. The walking route is clearly marked with signage. It includes paths, forest roads, and in part it runs over roman roads that have been “stabilized” and short sections of flagstone-paved road of the della Flaminian way (commonly used to pave streets in ancient Roman cities). The hike does not require any special preparation or ability; just a passion for walking in the mountains in an uncontaminated environment rife with historical importance. These same characteristics continue into the Tuscan side of the path, as the road originally connected Bologna with Arezzo, with a detour through Fiesole.

Walkers arrive from Bologna by car in the town of Brento, a part of Monzuno. From there the hike continues on CAI path n. 910. The group then easily reaches the top of Monte Adone. At655 metres (2,150ft), it is the highest point of the Contrafforte Pliocenico national park.

The tour then returns within the town limits of Monzuno. There, the second leg of the walk goes to Monte Venere. This site offers an especially beautiful view on sunny days and there is a recently renovated oratorio (church theatre) to visit.

Continuing south from Monte Venere, the third suggested destination is Pian di Balestra, a town situated on a 3km-long false plain that the roman road once followed. If you enter into the woods on the road, you will come to the Monte Bastione water table, final destination of our itinerary. There besides observing the ancient road’s roman flagstones, you can climb to the peak and admire the ancient fortress or bastione, that gave the name to the mountain.